Dental implants - your experiences

[EmeraldRoulette]

Hello all

Please could you tell me your experience of having dental implants?

I have cracked more than one tooth and damaged them from grinding my teeth. I'm looking at a very large bill (and probably about six appointments ) and I wondered if implants would be a more sensible use of that money. I'd obviously have to find a way to stop grinding my teeth as well because imagine if I broke implants!!

My impression is, it's a lot of hassle, pain and unpleasantness

As far as I can see I'm looking at

Preliminary scans and x-rays

Then, if all goes well with those, I'd need a couple of extractions and whatever they do to cover up temporarily

Then have the steel post put in with the temporary tooth

Then more scans and checks to make sure the steel has bonded with the bone or whatever the word is

Then ultimately the final tooth

And that's if I don't need a bone graft or a sinus lift

It sounds deeply invasive and unpleasant

Yet I meet people who say it was easy.

I'm not sure if some of these people have forgotten how much hassle it was maybe?
My mum has a couple of elderly friends who has it done and frankly they will have seen all the appointments as being a bit of a day out!

so I'm keen to hear all your experiences. Thank you. If you had a burning urge to talk about your dental implants, here's your chance 😂

it might go without saying, but I absolutely hate going to the dentist and the idea of having dental surgery horrifies me. However, the idea of handing over thousands to a dentist for what might be a temporary fix also horrifies me!

You may need a temporary denture if you're having a few teeth out. It makes the whole thing easier as well because the denture protects the extraction sites and covers the ongoing work.
My dentist told me lots of people get to the denture stage and decide to continue with a denture rather than go further if they adapt well to it so it's not an all or nothing decision iyswim.
There's little point unless you can get on top of the tooth grinding though.
It's an arse ache and expensive but worth it in my experience.

@WhatNext2026 thank you

I've got a temporary denture for a tooth that's been lost to grinding - cracked all the way into the gum

It's been in for a week. I'm finding it really annoying. I realise it might be annoying after a week and it might be completely fine in three months or something but it was actually the temporary denture that made me think I better investigate implants

It's just really grim taking a denture in and out at night and morning! I'm probably quite shocked by the whole thing, but I'm trying to be very grown up about it!

not the first time I've broken a tooth by grinding, but the other one they were able to save. I was genuinely shocked when they said I had to have this extracted.

I had an implant and was relatively hassle free - I think? But my bones are solid and dense and gums in decent shape so had no complications. But I also had it cheaply on private due to work dental cover. That might have helped.

to get past the grinding should you be wearing a retainer every night? Might help

I had all my teeth taken out. I have 4 implants on the top and 2 in the bottom then I have dentures that clip into place.

The treatment its self wasn't to bad. Your numbed as usual. You can feel pressure . A bit uncomfortable but not painful.

I’ve got 3 molars on 2 implants. Initial surgery was the longest bit. It took over 3 hours. I had to have a bone graft. The worst thing was having my mouth open for so long.

I think it was about 6 months in all before final crowns were in place. Cost a fortune. Worth every penny.

I had an implant on a front tooth a few years ago. I would absolutely recommend it in every way. My dentist was of the opinion that the various stages of the process should be done over time, allowing full healing to take place in between, so from breaking my tooth to having the final crown fitted was about 9 months.

I needed one because a crowned front tooth suddenly cracked off at the base one day. I went to the dentist the next day and he took impressions etc and discussed treatment options and I decided to go for an implant.

A few days later I had the tooth extracted and a temporary one tooth denture, which I hated. But wore in public for aesthetic reasons. After a few weeks I had scans to see if I had sufficient bone for the implant which I did.

The practice's implant specialist then did the procedure where the gum skin is lifted off and the bone drilled to take the titanium screw. That was fine, small amount of pain afterwards easily dealt with by paracetamol.

That was all allowed to heal then more impressions, discussions re colour of crown etc and I had a temporary crown.
Then finally the final crown was fitted. It looks great and is just like having my original tooth back.

You have to have good oral hygiene and floss under the gum to keep it clean and my dentist does not fit implants in smokers as the risk of failure is too great.
I would do it again in a heartbeat. Yes there are several appointments but that's no trouble.

I've had several.

The scan and x-ray is nothing.
You've already had the extraction.
Getting the implant fitted doesn't hurt.
It was sore for a day or two but not as sore as an abcess. I didn't take painkillers but was prescribed them.
Implant is fitted after about 3 months.
You need to maintain a decent level of oral hygiene but you need to do that anyway.

It is far better than a denture.

I had the first ones done under sedation but not the subsequent ones.
Get it done by a dentist you trust and like.
I'd definitely recommend getting an implant.

I have one singular implant, as I fully snapped one of my front teeth.

It was a long drawn out process, I had the initial scan, it was decided I needed a bone graft, so my tooth was fully removed and I was given a bone graft. That had to fully heal for about 6 months, where I had a temporary permanent tooth structure, which I hated and swapped to a denture after a while. Then I had the implant drilled and placed and had to wait another 6 months for this to fully “implant” and then I had the tooth finally fitted.

Some of the appointments were long and were painful once the anaesthetic had worn off, but I would do it over again if it happened again (and if I had the money, because it cost me £4,500!).

I do have photos but some of them are a little bit graphic, but I’m happy to share x

I've had three upper implants and one lower in the last year. The three upper teeth were visible and came out over a few months due to infection. I had a denture where there were two missing together and hated it. All the upper implants were done together.
The three upper teeth had all been out at least 3 months when I saw the implant dentist and I didn't need any sinus lifts or bone plugs. I had this series of appointments

1. assessment and scan- about £110 and 30 mins
2. place implants- 2 hour appointment for all 3 at once
3. 3 months later (dentist on holiday) check implants and molds for crowns - an hour perhaps, don't remember
4. 2 weeks later crown fitting about 45 mins Implants including crown were £2,200 each (south east London).

The bottom molar needed a bone plugs which my dentist put in when he did the extraction £450 then three months later I was back at step 1 for the implant.
I am very happy with mine, I can eat normally and whilst the process isn't pleasant it isn't really painful. Ibuprofen for a couple of days on dentist instructions to stop any swelling.
For me implants were the least bad option and if I need another one I will have it.

i also need an implant. Any dentists recommendations in south London area please? I am in Bromley but can travel if needed.
thank you

For me, the temporary dentures were the worst, as they were at the front of my mouth and unbeknownst to me, my dentist was truly shit at crafting good temporaries; think wonky, different sizes and colours, blobs tacked on, raw gums (after stitches), yellowing due to not eating drinking a strictly pure white food diet. God, it was a nightmare. I wish I'd had real stories to go on, not just dentist blurb and gleaming after pictures.

i had mine for my 40th birthday. I started when I was just turned 39 and they werent complete until I was 40 and and a half, so I have awful wonky teeth in all my 40th birthday party pictures.

Pick a dentist who is competent both technically AND aesthetically. I've had mine done again by someone else and theyre much better now but still glow a different colour under ultra violet bar/club lights but I cant be bothered to get them done a third time, I'll leave that until my gums start receding!

I grind my teeth too and the implants have been rock solid while the rest of my teeth continue to chip. I spit any guards out during my sleep unfortunately but I have heard good things about massater Botox so that's next.

Thank you everyone for all the information

food for thought.

I might get the now missing one replaced with an implant and see how that goes.

The strange thing about that one, it's kind of recessed - I should've had braces as a kid - and of all the teeth that I would replace, that's the one that looks like it's missing if I smile broadly anyway!

it looks like prices vary massively from what people have posted here. Also, I was under the impression that I would need to pay for a CT scan to make sure they can actually do it. That's quite a lot if I'm undecided. So I have to factor that in as well. Or did none of you have CT scans?

edit - @DamnBuster did you need them for clinical reasons or did you choose to have them? And you have them done again? You've been through a lot.

I'm not thrilled with the appearance of my denture to be honest - it can't really be seen so it doesn't matter but I'm not terribly convinced by it. I actually didn't have a dentist but suddenly broke this tooth. It was on my list of things to do! I wouldn't necessarily have chosen this chap, he seems nice enough, but I'm not sure realistically how good denture should be. The actual tooth is fine. It's the gum matching that's not brilliant. I also think it doesn't sit quite right but I've compared it to the moulds and technically it does so it must be my imagination.

@EmeraldRoulette , you can go for a consultation with different dentists. I did but went with my usual dentist.
She's nice and I've known her for decades.

The first ones were done by a different dentist but he's since retired. It seemed sensible to go with my regular one because it was walking distance.

I needed them clinically as I had an accident and my roots fractured.

i also had cadaver bone inserted. Lovely.

I had a ct scan but i think it was only a few hundred pounds. My implants cost £4,000 each and that was ten years ago in the Midlands. The first lot cost £3,000 each in 2007.

It's no joke but its better than dentures.

I had two implants last year for missing two top front teeth (horse riding accident as a teenager). I have a four tooth bridge on the two implants. It is honestly one of the best things I have done and I regret putting it off for so long.

The procedure itself while no walk in the park, was not awful. I was fully numb and just needed paracetamol and ibuprofen over the next few days. My worst thing was swelling. My top lip was so ridiculously swollen. This is because I had extractions and then the implants placed at the same time. I took two weeks annual leave from work which felt excessive at the time but I was glad I did as it gave the swelling time to go down and for me to get used to my temporary denture. I hated the denture, but it was aesthetic and I just tried to see it as part of the process.

I had my implants placed in June and the whole thing with the final permanent teeth was completed in December.

I did have a CT scan as they needed to see if there was enough bone or whether I would need a graft. My scan was £110. I know when I was looking around some places included the CT in their initial consultation fee, but my dentist offered a free initial consultation.

I have a four tooth bridge on the two implants. Same here. Front teeth.
I had a bone graft - sounds scary but it was synthetic bone.

It was done under local anaesthetic and the worst part was the numbing injections.

It was;
Initial scans
Root extractions and metal posts in (the putting the posts in was very unremarkable: I had dreaded this bit!
Then 3 months with dentures which I hated
A short visit to uncover the posts and put some fixing on top, I think
Then a visit a week or two later to put the permanent teeth on.

I had a couple of stitches after the extractions.

None of it was really painful.

Just expensive!

V pleased with the results

I have one molar implant after i shattered my tooth. It must be 15 years old now and is no trouble whatsoever. ( I'm a jaw-clencher and wear a mouth guard overnight)
It took about 9 months start to finish, included a bone graft and I have never regretted it for one moment.

wow

The cost here

So all these local dentist websites I'm looking at, it's probably going to be a lot more expensive than that. Four grand for one tooth.

I can't find anyone doing free consultations. I think a second opinion is going to cost me about £200. I suppose I ought to pay for a second opinion because they may not think I've got so many failing teeth. Or they might think I have more - which scares me.

They can see so much on a scan these days, I'm surprised they can't read my thoughts...!

@Dottydoodoo aha - so extractions and implants can be done at the same time? My thinking there is it would save the cost of the temporary solution. Otherwise, you're almost looking at two temporary solutions if you see what I mean.

I'm trying to gather as much information as possible before I go for a second opinion

The first opinion has completely thrown me. Until my tooth fell out, I didn't actually know there was so much wrong with my teeth.

And the NHS dentist I had before I moved probably wouldn't have found any of it

And then I might have just pottered along happily, not having an emergency for another five years after this one!

I went to bupa in beckenham . He is absolutely fantastic. I had a massive fear of dentist. Hes the only dentist I continued full treatment with. Hes kind in his tone. Explains things well . Hes very calm . No judgements. I guess in saying he has a fantastic bedside manor.

The most I've paid has been £2500 for an implant and that was for everything.

I'll PM you. (Don't be put off by the username - I'm not that person)

PM doesn't work. Dental Implants consultation .

I have an implant. I wouldn’t say it was easy but not as much drilling as a root canal. I am glad I did it, it was worth the expense. Was a few years ago so can’t remember the exact cost. You do need to wait a while after the extraction for the bones to heal before you can do the implant.

also can you get a gum shield for the grinding?

I have one implant and the whole process was a pain free experience.

Im about to have a de inc one done and will probably have some kind of bridge temporarily. I’m not expecting anything different from first time round.